In April, I continued to work on a number of issues directly affecting Nebraskans. These include successfully pushing back against aggressive Biden regulations, supporting better care coordination for our veterans, protecting our nation from China, and enhancing public safety.

Keep reading to learn more!

President Biden continues to pursue a radical regulatory agenda that would affect every single Nebraskan. 

One such regulation is an aggressive EPA rule on vehicle emissions that would devastate the trucking industry, raise costs for Nebraska families, and incentivize older, less efficient trucks to stay on the road. 

Think about it — during a time of high inflation, do we really want more expensive freight costs and fewer truckers?

That’s why I’m proud to share that my legislation to overturn this misguided regulation recently passed the Senate. I’m pushing for the House to pass the measure, and I’ll continue fighting against overreaching federal regulations that will hurt Nebraskans.  

President Biden also recently announced a new, top-down mandate for electric vehicles. His unrealistic EV plan poses problems for energy security and the lives of Nebraskans. 

We shouldn’t have to rely on the Chinese Communist Party for our vehicles. The Biden administration’s plan for a utopia of perfectly green vehicles is a cute idea, but it is completely out of touch with reality. It’s also out of touch with the needs and desires of Nebraskans.

This administration has got to stop with these mandates that force Americans into outcomes they wouldn’t choose themselves.

You can watch my full floor speech here.

Our veterans deserve the best care and support possible. Last month, I led a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Under Secretary for Health Dr. Shereef Elnahal urging the VA to create a new rural veteran referral pilot program in Nebraska. 

Approximately 40% of veterans in Nebraska live in rural areas, and many live hours away from a VA health facility. Creating this new test program would improve care coordination between the VA and rural providers so veterans across our great state have better access to more health care resources.

We owe our veterans so much, and I will continue working to ensure they receive the full support they deserve.

One of my top priorities is protecting our country from the national security threats posed by China.

Last month, I introduced a bipartisan bill to help finish the removal of dangerous, Chinese-made equipment from our nation’s communications networks. Left unchecked, these vulnerabilities could be exploited for all kinds of activities, including spying. 

Failure to help fund the removal and replacement of Chinese tech will also devastate small telecommunications carriers and the largely rural areas they serve.

I am committed to getting my bill passed so we can safeguard our nation from the Chinese Communist Party and support our rural communities.

It is long past time to increase accountability for violent federal offenses, especially as many communities experience dramatic spikes in criminal activity. 

I recently helped introduced the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act, which would bolster public safety and enhance penalties for violent crimes. This sensible legislation serves to hold violent criminals accountable and keep Nebraska communities safe. 

Recently, I heard from Nebraska principals about the important issues facing our schools, like the need to expand access to mental health services and address the teacher shortage.

It was great to welcome Mayor Don Groesser and Ralston city officials to Washington, D.C., last month.

I spent some time talking with the Nebraska Pork Producers, who were in Washington for #NPPCLAC2023. We had a good discussion about trade and overregulation.

I had a meeting last month with representatives from the Northwestern Lumber Association to talk about the important issues facing the lumber industry.

Every day, VerityNow works to educate people about the need to update our nation’s crash testing standards to better protect women, young people, and the elderly. I appreciated meeting with members of their team to talk about this important issue.

I met with representatives from the Omaha USACE District to talk about their work on important projects throughout Nebraska.

I appreciated meeting with the Nebraska chapter of the National Apartment Association to talk about ways to support the housing needs of Nebraskans.

It was wonderful to meet with the new Mayor of Blair Melinda Rump and City Administrator Rodney Storm to talk about the current and future needs of the city.

The Grocery Kart in Broken Bow is known for its friendly service, local products, and quality food. I enjoyed meeting some of the staff to speak about high inflation and supply chain issues.

I had a great discussion in Plattsmouth with community leaders about important topics such as agricultural trade, inflation, and school resources.

We had some great crowds at our Nebraska Breakfasts last month! If you’re visiting D.C. from Nebraska and would like to join our 80-year tradition, click here to learn more.

I had the honor of speaking at a send-off ceremony for the Nebraska National Guard’s A Company, 2-134^th Infantry Battalion (Airborne) as they prepared for their first deployment overseas. We owe a debt of gratitude to these brave Nebraskans for their service to this country.

I always enjoy meeting with Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue. I appreciated our discussion about ways to move Nebraska agriculture forward, like passing a strong Farm Bill and pushing the Biden administration to focus on expanding our trade opportunities.

Every year, about 5,000 people across the United States are diagnosed with ALS, a devastating disease that takes away so much from the ones we love. I met with members of the ALS Association to talk about ways to combat ALS and help support those who are suffering.

I met with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to hear about their efforts to promote responsible gun ownership for recreational shooting and hunting and facilitate lawful export licensing.

I always enjoy meeting with the Nebraska Cattlemen to talk about the issues facing Nebraska producers and the importance of this year’s Farm Bill.

Thank you for reading this update and being part of the democratic process.

Deb Fischer
U.S. Senator for Nebraska